San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-04-07
ORIGINAL ESSAY.
Facts and Philosophy Concerning the
Evils OF Intemperance.


Facts and Philosophy Concerning the
Evils OF Intemperance.
rThe following was written by Miss Sara
r. Mitchell teacher in Kyle Seminery, ana
rend by her before the Temperance meet
inc at San Marcos, March Goth, and fur
nished for publication in pursuance OF
resolution adopted ut said meeting.
This great question has become vital issue
with our people, and we'll it may, when we
consider the alarming rate at which drunk
enness is increasing in our country. The
figures indicating this increase show that we
are in fair way to become nation OF
drunkards This fact should cause the more
thoug tful class of people to look closely
into the root of this growing evil, and try to
devise some means by which its progress
may be retarded. 1t does not take logician
to see that drunken nation cannot long be
free nation. The rum monopoly is the
most dangerous that threatens our people,
and whatever may be our ideas concerning
prohibition, high license or local option, we
should at least welcome and encourage any
honest erdeavor to shake it off while yet
we may.
We will briefly notice the evil effects of
alcoholic stinulants on the human system.
According to the best psychologists the hu-
man body is largely composed of water. In
fact threefourths of the entire weight of the
body is water This has been arranged by
an Infinite God. Therefore any substance
that changes this proportion can be but
damaging in the extreme. II substance
that has greater attraction for water Is
taken into the body it will draw the water
from the various tissus; if the attra 'tion Is
great enough it will decompose them. Sub
stances having milder attraction for water
do not destroy the tissues but draw the free
water from them, thus causing them to
shrink, to harden and to stiIfen.
Alcohol has such an attraction for water
that it is impossible to procure pure alcohol
by distilation alone. The highest concen-
tration possible by dstillation gives 30 per
cent of a alcohol, still leaving 10 per cent.
of water. If the strongest form of alcohol
is { ken into the month or stomach it will
blister the mucous membrane and decom-
pose the structure of the parts. 80 great is
its affinity for the water they contain. Ii
dilute alcohol is taken into the system the
same occurs only IN a less degree of yio'
lence. When alcohol is taken, the bodily
and mental powers are stimulated or excited
beyond their ordinary strength, after which
there is corresponding depression.
The habitual presence of alcohol in she
blood has very deleterious effect. 1t causes
the corpusces to shrink, thus lessening their
power to carry oxygen to the tissues and To
bear away the carbonic acid from the sys-
tenn Therefore those who are addicted to
the use of alcoholic stiinulants are more
liable to disease than those who are not.
The nerves lead from the brain to all
parts of the body. Motion. feeling, and
mental action are all dependent upon the
nervous system. Then whatever affects the
nervous system. must of necessity aHect the
mind. The contact of alcohol with the
nerves causes them to contract and to be-
come hard.
The nerves and brain of persons who die
from the effects of alcohol are noticeably
hardened. 1t has been said that physician
in the dissectng room, even when blind
folded. can tell the moment his scalpel
touches the brain whether the subject was
drinker or not. If he was, his brain is
hard and sometimes almost bony; if he was
entirely sober, his brain is soft and flexible
The most decided and alarming effects of
alcohol on body and mind is tendency to
weaken the will, aud fix upon the system
a powerfu appetite for strong drink
Reranse alcohol weakens the understand
ing and blunts the feelings, the person under
its Influence loses that keen sense of right
and duty that is so necessary in the action
of the will. He IS unable to discriminate
between right and wrong. The great tide
of evil. prostitution, and sin that is sweep
ing over the world is the consequence of the
development of this inability to distinguish
between right and wrong.
Almost every newspaper teens with ac-
counts of suicides, murders and crimes OF
every description. and in ninety-nine cases
out of every hundred it can be traced to the
influence of intoxicating liquor.
Another great evil of the drinking habit
is the liability of transmitting the appetite
for strong drink to future generations.
Children inherit from their parents both
physical and mental qualities. Children
whose parents are addicted to the use of
strong drink suffer from the effects of 1t.
This is not only true of the children them
selves. but extends even to the third and
fourth generations.
You see that young man over there. he
is of noble, christian parentage; he has a
broad brow, and o frank. open countenance.
'Che influences that surround him are all
favorable to healthy development of body,
mind and spirit. Bnt, you see him fire.
auenting the city, see him emerging from
the saloon. he has only taken the social
glass: but why should he go there? II Is
violation of everything he has learned or
been taught at home His appetite leads
hlm again to the drinking house and now
you see him staeger as he leaves the room
he is drunk His brothers are all sober,
why should this poor boy turn SO early to
dissipation? Look back upon his lineage.
All! grandfather, great1grandfathsr. or
uncle died in the ditch The story fst0td!
A great many use alcoholic drinks IN
what is termed "a moderate use" They
drink wine OF beer in such moderate quan-
ties as not 10 cause intoxication. yet they
use these beverages for the alcohol they
contain and thus form the unruly appetite
Even the moderate use Of alcohol has
tendency to produce diseased condition OF
The circulation. and by infaming the nerv-
ous system. 10 weaken both isody and mind.
The most effective allies Of the dulk habit
TO-DAY. As In all times. are the moderate
drinkers. The influence Of the moderate
drinker j. far more injurious than that OF
the confirmed drunkanl
A drunksrd j. aluays a loathsoms object,
vet he began as a moderate drinker. he
moderate driuker j. always the object q
imitation au1ong beginners "a tbs road %
r1ip Thea We uould ssy to the moderate
drinker. ''Take heed Jet - any means
this liberty of yOurs become stumbling
tIr.ek 10 them that are ueak." ''Nheu ye
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